Compared to many TV streaming services, Hulu is a mature technology, created five years ago by some of TV’s biggest players. Now, the New York Times suggests it’s coming of age—and that events this week will see it truly become a network TV challenger.

The Times reports that, this Thursday, Hulu will pitch advertisers on its new, original programming. That might not sound like a big deal, but it is in fact an annual ritual called “upfronts”—usually reserved for cable channels and network broadcasters.

The fact that Hulu is sidling up alongside the big players of the TV world is a huge milestone for online TV. In the same week, Hulu will also announce that it now has more than two million subscribers for its $8-a-month Hulu Plus service.

So, Hulu’s first piece of original programming, Battleground, wasn’t great. And, sure, the firm has to put up with its parental companies feuding most of the time. But that doesn’t seem to matter too much when Hulu is pitching at the same meetings as the biggest national TV providers. [New York Times]

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Digital Consigliere

Dr. Augustine Fou is Digital Consigliere to marketing executives, advising them on digital strategy and Unified Marketing(tm). Dr Fou has over 17 years of in-the-trenches, hands-on experience, which enables him to provide objective, in-depth assessments of their current marketing programs and recommendations for improving business impact and ROI using digital insights.